Painting of Bartholomew Day Massacre

c. 1572

Wikipedia

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The French Wars of Religion (the Huguenot Wars) were fought between Roman Catholics and Huguenots (Reformed Protestants) in France in the 16th century. The Bartholomew Massacre left an indelible stain on Catholic-Protestant relations. It started in Paris on 23rd August 1572, with Catholics tasked to kill many leading Huguenots, including Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, their political leader. An assassination attempt on him had occurred two days before. Slaughter prevailed, with thousands dying. Although François Dubois did not witness the event, he depicts in this painting Admiral Coligny’s body hanging out of a window at back right. To the back left, Catherine de’ Medici is shown emerging from the Château du Louvre to inspect a heap of bodies.